Arthropod diversity in phytotelmata of Calathea capitata (Zingiberales; Marantaceae) host plants from Peru

Arthropod diversity in phytotelmata of Calathea capitata (Zingiberales; Marantaceae) host plants from Peru

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Cryptic habitats are often overlooked in biodiversity surveys.Phytotelmata, or plant pools, are one type of cryptic habitat that supports diverse fauna in a miniature ecosystem.This study nacrack.com surveys the arthropod community of two types of phytotelmata, bracts and leaf rolls, on a single species, Calathea capitata (Ruiz and Pav.) Lindl.

(Zingiberales: Marantaceae), from one Amazon site in Peru.Specimens were collected from eight bracts and eight leaf rolls.A total of 55 arthropods (36 adults, 19 juveniles) were found in both phytotelmata types.In the bract samples were found: spiders (Araneae: Corinnidae), beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae, Erotylidae, Staphylindae), flies (Diptera: Limoniidae), a leafhopper nymph (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), and unidentified larvae.

In leaf roll samples were found: Leaf beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), an earwig (Dermaptera: Spongiforidae), flies (Diptera: Drosophilidae), and an synovex one grass adult leafhopper (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae).A similar survey of Calathea lutea Schultes in Peru revealed a community dominated by Coleoptera in leaf rolls and Diptera in bracts, with a few Dermaptera and Hymenoptera, but no Araneae or Hemiptera.This study demonstrates that phytotelmata host diverse taxa and serve as a nursery to immature stages thus impacting the life cycles of local fauna, which in turn affect local biodiversity.